SPB Coverage: Nonito Donaire vs Simpiwe Vetyeka

Nonito Donaire was the 2012 “Fighter of the Year” on most boxing media outlets. He won all four championship fights against top caliber opponents in the same year. He defeated former world champions Jorge Arce by KO3, Toshiaki Nishioka TKO9, Jeffrey Mathebula UD12 and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. SD12.

Nonito Donaire (32-2, 21 KO’s) was all set to enter big time payday in 2013. But Olympian Guillermo Rigondeux took Donaire to a boxing clinic in April 2013. Donaire was outclassed and outwitted by the Cuban ring tactician in over 12 rounds of highly tactical fight. Donaire rebounded in the same year; knocking out former foe, Vic Darchinyan in round 9.

On Saturday, Donaire, now 31 years old, will face South Africa’s Simpiwe Vetyeka for the WBA super world featherweight title in Cotai, Arena in Macau, China.

Simpiwe Vetyeka (26-2, 16 KO’s) retired and handed Chris John his first career defeat—after 15 years undefeated as a professional prize fighter in December in Australia. Vetyeka 33, is looking for recognition in the world stage—fighting almost entirely in South Africa—fought only once in the US. A win over Donaire is one big leap.

Donaire is looking for a second push of his career—reuniting with his father, which is now his trainer. Bob Arum of Top Rank, Donaire’s promoter, said in an interview with ABS-CBN that he will line-up Donaire’s opponent after he passed Vetyeka.

HBO will air the Nonito Donaire vs Simpiwe Vetyeka fight on tape delay in the afternoon to give way Froch-Groves fight from London, which HBO has live. However, BoxNation will air this card live at 9:00 ETD.

I’ll be posting more update from this fight until fight night and I’ll provide links to those posts below. I’ll be posting my preview and prediction on Thursday. Stay tuned.